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MEMOIRS OF THE NEW YORK BOTANICAL GARDEN 



| VOL. 10 



Experiments by Nordenskiold indicates that genetically L. forsteri is most closely 

 related to L. luzulina. The F x hybrids produced were 80 to 90 percent fertile 

 and some of the F 2 progeny were 100 percent fertile. Present information, how- 

 ever, indicates that these two species do not hybridize in nature. This lack of 

 hybridization is due to a difference in blooming period and ecological condition s 

 that will be discussed more fully under L. luzulina. 



The only other species which occurs in the same general region and with 

 which Luzula forsteri would have an opportunity to hybridize in nature is L. 

 pilosa. Both of these species are found in Europe, but L. pilosa generally occurs 

 farther north. These species do come into contact, however, and some hybridiza- 

 tion takes place. F 2 hybrids between these two species are completely sterile, 

 according to Nordenskiold 's experiments, but Ebinger (1962a) found that this 

 hybrid occasionally sets a few seeds and that it may backcross with one of the 

 parents. 



The material that is now considered Luzula forsteri was combined with J un- 

 cus pilosus ( — L. pilosa) until 1804. Once it was recognized as being specifically 

 distinct, however, this concept was accepted by most botanists. Most of the names 

 attributed to this species are transfers to other genera that are now considered 

 synonyms of Luzula. In a few cases, however, the names are later described syno- 

 nyms (L. decolor and L. gesneri) or herbarium names (L. barrelieri) that were 

 introduced into the literature as synonyms of L. forst( ri. 



Although the variety forsteri is relatively constant in its characters, many of 

 the specimens from Spain, Portugal, northwest Africa and the Canary Islands 

 have culm leaves that are wider than is usual for members of this variety. Plants 

 with this characteristic have been referred to as Lit in I a decolor by earlier au- 

 thors. The variety pallida, which is here considered a synonym of L. forsteri var. 

 forsteri, was described as having flowers that are pale yellow in color. This con- 

 dition was sometimes found, but seems not to be correlated with a particular 

 locality, but rather represents the normal variation of the species. Variety rhi- 

 zomata, in contrast, has a distinct geographic range, and is easily separated from 

 variety forsteri by the presence of rhizomes. 



3. Luzula johnstonii Buchenau 



Luzula johnstonii Buchenau, Bot. Jahrb. 12: 79. 1890. 



Juncoides johnstonii (Buchenau) O. Ktze. Eev. Gen. PI. 2: 724. 1891. 



Perennial ; rhizomes and stolons present, these similar, to 10 cm long, 1-4 mm 

 wide, with purplish scale-like leaves and slender adventitious roots; blades of 

 the basal leaves flat, 3-7 mm wide, to 20 cm long, margins sparsely pubescent, 

 apex mucronate acuminate or callose-tipped ; culms erect, slender, smooth, 20-40 

 cm tall, bearing 2-4 leaves ; sheaths closed, pubescent at the throat with long 

 white hairs, blades linear, 3-6 mm wide, to 9 cm long, margins sparsely pubes- 

 cent, callose-tipped ; inflorescence terminal, decompound ; pedicels erect to slightly 

 spreading, never reflexed ; basal bract erect, much shorter than the inflorescence, 

 leaf-like, green to purple, the margins sparsely pubescent, callose or mucronate- 

 tipped; other bracts purple,, shorter ; inner bract at the base of each pedicel 

 usually truncate with a hyaline tip, sometimes pubescent ; outer bracts usually 

 longer than the inner, tip acuminate, sometimes extended into a slender hair-like 

 tip ; bracteoles ovate-lanceolate, acuminate, awned, purple with hyaline margins, 

 shorter than the flowers; perianth segments similar, equal, lanceolate, entire, 

 usually awned or the petals frequently unawned, purple with narrow hyaline 



